Peter Mandelson accused of 'power without responsibility

By Pat O'Keeffe

In the aftermath of a huge turnout at last week's WTO protest rally in Dublin, the President of the IFA, Padraig Walshe has launched a fresh attack on EU Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, and explained why his organisation's support for the Lisbon Treaty now hangs on the outcome of the WTO talks process.

In a strong attack on the EU Trade Commissioner to be delivered at the Forum on Europe next week, IFA President Padraig Walshe said Peter Mandelson's record in office in Brussels can be summarised in one slogan: 'Power without Responsibility'.

"I have seen nothing in Mandelson's behaviour to indicate that he feels accountable to anybody,'' Walshe said. "Unaccountability and democracy cannot co-exist. Any institution that is unaccountable is doomed to failure.''

Will not vote yes

Regarding the government's promotion of the referendum, Padraig Walshe said if farmers are sold out in Geneva, they simply will not do the government's bidding and vote 'Yes' in the referendum.

He said IFA has always adopted a positive position on EU integration. "IFA still wants to do that, but if there is a negative outcome from Geneva, farmers cannot be expected to vote against their interests,'' he will tell the Forum.

He asked, "What is the point of institutional reform if Mandelson abandons the interests of the people he is supposed to represent, and ignores the past decisions and mandates of the Council of Ministers?''

Padraig Walshe said that farmers and their families have a strong connection in their minds with "Europe'' and the EU Commission.

"That has been a positive connection. Irish farmers saw the Commission as the independent body that defended their particular interests, and also the interests of Ireland as a small country.''

Walshe said Commissioner Mandelson has single-handedly broken that connection, and Irish farmers have zero confidence in him to represent their interests, and they see him as selling out their futures.

He added: "The WTO agenda of globalisation results in winners and losers.

"Based on the EU position going to Geneva, I represent the losers.

"Family farmers and the local food industry will lose, the rural economy will lose, and Ireland in totality will lose.''